Magnetized zipper pull tab



June 20, 1967 F. F. YOUNGER I MAGNETIZED ZIPPER PULL TAB Filed NOV- 9,1965 a o Eij m o 'INVENTOR FRANKLIN F. YOUNGER ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Ofiice 3,325,869 Patented June 20, 1967 3,325,869 MAGNETIZEDZIPEER PULL TAB Franklin F. Younger, 439 N. Main St.,

Linton, Ind. 47441 Filed Nov. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 506,970 3 Claims. (Cl.24-20511) The present application concerns a magnetized pull tab forzippers, particularly a pull tab which may lock the zipper in closedposition by attraction to magnetic elements attached to opposed sides ofa garment opening.

Numerous previous inventors have attempted to devise magnetic closuresfor jewelry and garments. Several have attempted to devise magneticzipper closure elements. However, none have devised a positive lock forclosure of zippers in garments, particularly ladies dresses.Accordingly, the present invention is utilizable with a conventionalzipper closure in order to positively lock the zipper in closedposition. Magnetized elements are attached to the opposed sides of agarment opening at the top of a conventional zipper and arecomplementally configured to engage indentations or dimples in thezipper pull tab. As a result, there is a positive magnetic locking and amale-female engagement of the pull tab dimples and the magnetsthemselves.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide a positive lock forzipper closure elements.

Another object of invention is to provide a zipper closure elementhaving both magnetic and mechanical locking features.

Additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuingspecification and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation, partially fragmentary, showing the zipperpull tab 16 pivotally attached to a zipper 'slidable closure 12 andsecured in locking position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the locking magnets 26 and 28and the pull tab;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the pull tab showingthe complemental engagement of the pull tab dimples with the lockingmagnets; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of a modification of invention whererectangular magnets, instead of annuli, are utilized to engagecorresponding rectangular dimples in the pull tab.

In FIG. 1 a garment is fragmentarily illustrated as comprising opposedsides and 32 secured to each other by a conventional zipper 14. Slidableclosure 12 has been utilized to close the opposed garment opening sidesand has pivoted thereto metallic pull tab 16. Zipper closure loop orbracket 34 extends through aperture 24 in the vertically aligned pulltab base 16. The pull tab top 18 is comprised of laterally extendingarms 36 and 38, each including a dimple or inset portion 20 and 22. Atthe top of the opposed zipper sides magnetic elements 26 and 28, eachconfigured as an annulus may be secured to the garment fabric by meansof glue 42 or the like. Alternatively, the magnetic elements may be sewnupon the garment opening sides. As shown in FIG. 3, dimples 20 and 22include an inset or convex portion which precisely engages the center ofthe annuli 26 and 28. Therefore, there is a positive locking of thezipper, not only by means of the magnetic attraction of the laterallyextending arms 36 and 38 to the annuli 26 and 28, but also due to thefrictional or snap engagement of convex portion 40 within the annulus.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 4, the magnets are configured asrectangles, so as to engage corresponding rectangular pull tab dimples20 and 22. According to this modification, magnets 26 and 28' arealigned with the garment opening sides so as to engage each other, asWell as pull tab arms 36' and 38' when the zipper is closed. Magnets 26'and 28, according to this modification, would have to be secured to thegarment in opposed north-south relationship, so as to be attracted toeach other. According to this arrangement, there is a triple lockingeffect, namely, the attraction of magnets 26' and 28' to each other andto pull tab top portion 18', as well as the locking engagement ofrectangular dimples 20' and 22 with magnets 26 and 28' in rectangularconfiguration.

Manifestly, the zipper may be applied to all types of zipper closuresWithout limitation to garments and the pull tab, as well as the magneticelements, may be variously configured without departing from the spiritand scope of invention, as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A zipper pull tab of the type used with a conventional zipperattached to opposed sides of a garment opening and having a slidableclosure element, comprising:

(a) a T-shaped metallic body, including:

(i) a vertically aligned base portion pivoted to said slidable closure,

(ii) a pair of laterally extending top arms each including a dimpledportion; and

(b) magnets attached to opposed garment opening sides so as to attractsaid metallic body and complementally configured to engage said dimpledportion of said laterally extending arms.

2. A zipper pull tab as in claim 1, wherein each of said magnets isconfigured as an annulus and inset with respect to the opposed garmentopening sides.

3. A zipper pull tab as in claim 1, wherein said dimpled portion is ofrectangular configuration and each of said magnets is:

(i) configured as a rectangle;

(ii) aligned with the opposed garment opening sides,

and

(iii) positioned north and south so as to be attracted to each other,while being attracted to said pull tab and complementally engaging therectangular dimpled portion on said pull tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,271,832 9/1966 Yankers 24205.11

FOREIGN PATENTS 999,770 2/ 1952 France. 1,187,838 2/1965 Germany.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

1. A ZIPPER PULL TAB OF THE TYPE USED WITH A CONVENTIONAL ZIPPERATTACHED TO OPPOSED SIDES OF A GARMENT OPENING AND HAVING A SLIDABLECLOSURE ELEMENT, COMPRISING: (A) A T-SHAPED METALLIC BODY, INCLUDING:(I) A VERTICALLY ALIGNED BASE PORTION PIVOTED TO SAID SLIDABLE CLOSURE,(II) A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING TOP ARMS EACH INCLUDING A DIMPLEDPORTION; AND (B) MAGNETS ATTACHED TO OPPOSED GARMENT OPENING SIDES SO ASTO ATTRACT SAID METALLIC BODY AND COMPLEMENTALLY CONFIGURED TO ENGAGESAID DIMPLED PORTION OF SAID LATERALLY EXTENDING ARMS.